Indigenous Disability Studies

This book provides a comprehensive approach to the perspectives, lived experiences, and socio-cultural beliefs of Indigenous scholars regarding disabilities through a distinctions-based approach. Indigenous people demonstrate considerable knowledge in a multitude of capacities in spite of legal, monetary, social, economic, health, and political inequalities that they experience within from administrative authorities whether health, education, or governments.

By including various knowledge systems related to social-cultural, traditional governance, spirituality, educational, and self-representation within a communal understanding, the knowledge brought forth will be a combination of information from within/communal and outwards/infusion by Indigenous teachers, scholars, academics, and professionals who aim to combat the negative effects of disability labels and policies that have regulated Indigenous peoples.

Comprised of five sections:

• The power, wisdom, knowledge, and lived experiences of Elders
• Reframing the narrative – Navigating self-representation
• Learning from within – Including traditional knowledge
• Challenging colonial authority – Infusing regional ideals and concepts
• Interpretations, narratives, and lived experiences of grassroots teachers and social service providers

It will be an asset to those who seek out a deeper understanding of the complexity of Indigenous people and their knowledge, including anyone who deals with predominantly non-Indigenous mindsets and barriers to education.

Courses on disability studies, Indigenous studies, social work, health, education, and development studies will all benefit from this book.

John T. Ward is a Métis and Non-Status Indian from the Algonquin territory of Kitchisibi. His specialization is Indigenous wholistic knowledge, ethics, disabilities, learning disabilities, and dyslexia among Indigenous people in Canada. He also works as a special advisor in disability and Indigenous knowledge in the Government of Canada.